Chapter 5 The beginning of a plan 1

Vivian saw her run towards the university again the next afternoon, this time with more excitement and happiness. Clinton called Pizza Domino's to order pizza, asking her to be the delivery man, which is why she's here. She found her way to Clinton's class with no difficulty, within minutes she was in Area A.

Holding her breath, she dashed down the stairs, waiting for Clinton to come out of class and come find her. Next, she will make things go as planned so that she has Jaime in the palm of her hand. This thought made her laugh to herself.

She spent the next five minutes or so watching as the students went up and down the stairs. Each of them appeared busy and absent-minded. Feeling a little awkward, she clutched the pizza bag, sitting on the stone bench to wait.

"Are you waiting for Clinton?" A voice rang out from behind. When she turned around, she discovered Jaime sitting down next to her.

Vivian tried not to let the obvious smile appear on her face. Everything started moving much faster than she imagined. Acting innocent, she nodded.

"His class hasn't ended yet," Jaime explained then glanced down at the pizza bag she had placed on her lap, he smiled. "I couldn't believe he kept his promise like that. I thought he was just joking."

Vivian glanced down and quickly opened her bag to take out the box. "Are you hungry?"

Without waiting for his reply, she opened the box, carefully pulling out a slice of pizza. She gave it to him in a hurry, he had no choice but to agree, she said. "The cake just came out of the oven. It's still hot. Eat it quickly, or it will get cold and not delicious."

He glanced at the cake and then looked at her with a warm smile before taking it. As he took a bite, Vivian felt her eyebrows furrow discreetly as a sudden thought struck her.

Taking out a piece of cake for her, she blew on it to cool it down and bit delicately, she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of him.

From the corner of her eye, she confirmed that Jaime's attention was focused solely on the pizza.

The sausage from her bun fell on his lap, and she squirmed. "Sorry, I didn't mean it." She quickly removed the sausage from his thigh and carefully wiped the stain with her finger.

When she raised her head to find him staring at her intently, she appeared shy and shrunk back.

"I... I'm sorry." She stuttered on purpose.

"Uhm... it's okay." He said and moved his feet away from hers a little.

Vivian bit her bottom lip, wondering if she'd provoked him or if she'd made him shy.

"I feel hungry." He says. "Do you mind if I take Clinton's cake? I don't think he'll be mad."

"Don't mind at all." Vivian happily opened the box, he leaned over to get another cake for him. If she wants to win his attention, she has to do more than this. Staring at him from the corner of her eye, she bit her tongue while thinking about what to say next.

"I heard your father is sick," Vivian spoke, he suddenly looked at her.

Inside she screamed, yes, keep looking at me like that.

"Sorry." She scratched her chin. "It's just... I heard my friend say that."

"Really." He smiled kindly. "Uh, it's true. My father is now bedridden, after a stroke. One person told the other, so almost everyone knows."

"Really?" she asked. "I'm sorry for prying into your family matters."

Jaime shook his head. "I don't mind. What I think is people trying to avoid the topic and acting like I'm pathetic. I really hate that."

She nodded to show her understanding and studied him. He must have been very sad. Vivian understands how that happens. People who are personally affected by a family problem will act less kindly toward someone who pities them than toward someone who understands them. If she uses this to get closer to him, her plan will succeed.

"Of course not." She speaks. "You're not pitiful at all."

Jaime turned to look at her as if surprised before smiling but it was a shy smile. Vivian also smiled at him. Suddenly someone sat between them, forcing her to move aside.

"Don't tell me you two have become close in my absence." Clinton sat down.

Vivian's insides rumbled, she tried not to get upset at the interruption. The conversation with Jaime was going well, perfectly well, but...

"Uhm, since you're here, I should go." Jaime stood up and then spoke to her. "Thanks for the pizza."

Smiling, Vivian nodded and watched him intensely as Jaime walked away while Clinton chattered in her ear. Surely, she promised herself, she would definitely have him.

~~~~~~

"You come home so early?" His mother said as he walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Sitting at the table with his short legs, Juke grinned at his uncle. Walking towards the boy, Jaime patted his head.

"Uncle, uncle." The boy called. "Eat cereal with me."

"Alright," Jaime replied then turned his head when he heard his mother's voice.

"It's okay if you come home late sometimes. Don't you have any friends to hang out with?"

"Clinton is busy flirting, I don't want to stop him," Jaime replied.

"What is flirting, uncle?" Juke looked up at him with big eyes.

Immediately afterward, Jaime smiled and bent down to explain. "It's a method that grown men use."

"What is that?"

"Uhm..." He frowned in thought. "It's...if a guy likes a girl, he'll flirt with her."

Juke chuckled happily. "Are you flirting too?"

Letting out a laugh, Jaime patted the boy's head, turning to see his mother looking at them happily.

"Ah, that's right." She speaks. "President Evans called your father about setting you up for a date with his daughter. She's a few years older than you, but she is still unmarried and has experience in the company. Your father agrees that if you two get along and get married, it will be easier for you to run the company in the future."

"President Evans?" Jaime raised an eyebrow.

"Uh. Your father wants to talk to you about this today. What do you think?"

First, Jaime gave his mother a silent smile, then pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. Seeing the grease stain left by Vivian's sausage on his pants, he gave a light, humorous smile when he thought about it.

"Jaime?" His mother called.

Looking up, he answered. "I'll think about it."

"You're dating your girlfriend?" Juke kicked his feet into the air.

"We'll wait and see." Jaime smiled at the boy.